TAMESIDE Council’s leader may face a immediate vote of no confidence call as the authority gets used to its new make-up.
Cllr Eleanor Wills saw overall control slip from the Labour Party’s grasp for the first time in 47 years in the local elections on Thursday, May 7.
Now The Correspondent has learned what is now the second biggest group – the 19 Reform UK representatives after it won 18 of the 19 wards – may table a motion calling for a vote of no confidence at the first meeting since the vote, on Tuesday, May 26.
Reform’s leader in Tameside, Robert Barrowcliffe, told how their victories were not the end, as they are going for outright control in 2027.
He also told how they are determined to set the agenda, after being asked if they would support Labour ideas they feel are good.
He said: “Of course we’re willing to co-operate on the issues that we agree on. However, we intend on setting the agenda this year.
“Labour has set the agenda for 47 years. It’s now time for a new way of thinking.
“We’ve had 47 years of steady decline in living standards, costs of living, record immigration into our towns, record rents increasing. So people want change.”
Now Labour has lost control, it will have to find backers for policies it wants to implement from across the political spectrum.
The most likely port of call is the independent group, which features a number of former party members, including ex-leader Cllr Ged Cooney.
Also, the four standalone independents consist of three ex-Labour representatives, Cllrs Charlotte Martin, George Newton and Jack Naylor.
And if Reform UK’s first move is to call for a vote of no confidence in the council leader, that does not exactly point to a collaborative relationship.